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4 June 2013MITIE Group PLCMITIE CEO launches report into boosting women’s role in economyThe Women’s Business Council (WBC) has today launched a government report onmaximising women’s contribution to economic growth.Chaired by Ruby McGregor Smith CBE, chief executive of FTSE250 strategicoutsourcing company MITIE, the WBC is an independent one year working groupestablished by the government in 2012.The report explores the untapped potential of the female workforce and sets out aseries of recommendations on how the UK can make the most of women’scontribution to economic growth.The report looks into addressing the obstacles at all stages of women’s careers, suchas broadening career choices, helping to access childcare and providing thenecessary skills to start new businesses.Ruby McGregor Smith CBE, chief executive of MITIE and Chair of the Women’sBusiness Council, said:“The work of the Women’s Business Council could not be more timely. Ourrecommendations are for both Government and the business community, andcover every stage of women’s working lives.“I am passionate about making sure obstacles for women to work at different stagesof their careers are removed, and UK business has a hugely important role to play inachieving this.“At MITIE we know that embedding a culture of diversity is key to the long-termsuccess of our business. We look to attract, develop and retain the best femaletalent and provide them with a supportive and inclusive working environment. Wehave introduced a series of intiaitives to improve our culture for women and arecommitted to leading the way in diversity.“Now is the time for all businesses to act. Through the implementation of the WBC’srecommendations, we can unblock the talent pipeline that for so long has restrictedwomen from reaching the most senior levels in business – and deliver long-termeconomic benefits for the UK.”In April 2013, MITIE was named as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women, forthe third consecutive year, illustrating its commitment to gender equality.MITIE has a a variety of programmes aimed at retaining female talent, includingdedicated maternity coaching, flexible working, company-wide mentoring, and anexternally chaired diversity steering committee.

Other recent initiatives include a partnership with charity Working Chance to assistwomen offenders in making the transition back into work, and a targeted campaignto encourage women into under-represented trade apprenticeships such asplumbing and construction.The WBC report’s key findings and recommendations for Government and businessare: that there is an overwhelming business case, supported by strong evidence, formaximising women’s contribution to growth; that we need to broaden young women’s aspirations and job choices beforethe start of their working lives by creating a partnership between schools,businesses and parents; business needs to embrace the benefits of flexible working and understand howbest to support working parents in the second stage of their career; women in the third phase of working life offer great untapped potential; there is a strong case for providing more support for women who want to setuptheir own businesses.- ENDS -

For further information, contact:MITIEErica Lockhart, Head of Corporate AffairsFrancesca Litchfield, Corporate Affairs AssistantNotes for editorsD: +44 (0) 20 3123 8179M: +44 (0) 7979 784488E: erica.lockhart@mitie.comD: +44 (0) 20 3123 8676M: +44 (0) 7979 822312E: francesca.litchfield@mitie.comWhat is MITIE?MITIE is a £2bn revenue strategic outsourcing company. We work with people who want toperform better – now and in the future. We help our clients to run more efficient andeffective businesses by looking after their facilities, their energy needs and the peoplethey’re responsible for. We have more than 70,000 people using their passion, knowledgeand ingenuity to deliver the very best for each and every client.We work with our clients in three ways:+ Strategy and consultancy+ Facilities, people and energy management+ Service delivery including catering, cleaning, security, maintenance, landscaping and pestcontrol.Some take full advantage of our whole range of expertise, others may only need one aspectof what we do.No other business in the UK offers so many of these services under one roof, deliveredindividually and together by people with such a strong sense of purpose.People tell us we’re spirited, imaginative and committed.It’s all this that makes us special. It’s this that makes us MITIE.To find out more about what we do visit us at www.mitie.comAbout the Women’s Business CouncilThe Women’s Business Council is an independent, one-year working group that was setup by Government in 2012 with the aim of ensuring real action by Government, businessand others to maximise women’s contribution to economic growth.The Council will continue to meet every six months to monitor progress and will publish areport in one year’s time to put on public record what has been achieved.Its members are all business people working in a range of sectors – including advertising,recruitment, enterprise, retail, legal, financial and pharmaceutical – biographies of allmembers are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisorygroups/womens-business-council#womens-business-council-membersThe Women’s Business Council report and a series of case studies are available athttps://www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/womens-business-council